Ornamental lighting fixture



gs 1957 A. J. ASLUND 3,334,221

ORNAMENTAL LI GHTING FIXTURE Filed June 11, 1964 INVENTOR Ausmv J AJA 040 BY fl w W I" ATTO/F/VEV United States Patent 3,334,221 ORNAMENTALLIGHTING FIXTURE Austin J. Aslund, Lakewood, Califi, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Wide-Lite Corp., a division of Esquire, Inc., Houston,Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed llune 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,53813 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) This invention relates generally to lightingfixtures and more particularly to novel ornamental lighting fixtureswhich are adjustable to alter the pattern of light and shadow cast bythe fixtures.

Modern architectural design has created an ever increasing demand fornovel ornamental lighting. Particularly desired are ornamental lightingfixtures which cast unique patterns of light and shadow on adjacentwalls and ceiling surfaces. Many and varied ornamental lighting fixturesof this type have been devised, of course. The existing lightingfixtures of which I am aware, however, are deficient in that they do notpermit alteration of the pattern of light and shadow cast by thefixtures. There is, accordingly, a need for ornamental lighting fixtureswhich are adjustable to vary the pattern of light and shadow cast by thefixtures.

A general object of this invention is to provide such adjustableornamental lighting fixtures.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide ornamentallighting fixtures of the character described which are adjustable toalter the pattern of light and shadow cast by the fixtures on adjacentwall and ceiling surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide ornamental lightingfixtures of the character described which are relatively simple inconstruction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and otherwiseideally suited to their intended purposes.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will becomereadily apparent as the description proceeds.

Certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed in detail by reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental lighting fixtureaccording to the invention, illustrating the pattern of light and shadowcast by the fixture on an adjacent ceiling surface;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section through a modified ornamentallighting fixture according to the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

The ornamental lighting fixture illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 3 ofthese drawings comprises a ceiling plate 12 having central, internallythreaded hub 14. Extending through the plate 12, at two more positionsradially spaced from the hub 14, are countersunk holes for receivingmounting screws 16. When installing the lighting fixture 10, the ceilingplate 12 is placed over the open side of a conventional receptacle box18 which is installed in a wall or ceiling prior to plastering. In thedrawings, the receptacle box 18 is assumed to be installed in a ceiling20. As is customary, the box 18 is flush with the lower, plasteredsurface of the ceiling 20. When the lighting fixture 10 is installed,the ceiling plate 12 seats against the surface of the ceiling 20. Themounting screws 16 are threaded in intumed lugs 24 on the receptacle box18 for securing the ceiling plate in position.

3,334,221 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 Threaded in the central hub 14 of theceiling plate 12 is a lamp socket 26. A lamp 28 is threaded in the lowerend of this socket. The illustrated ornamental lighting fixtures aredesigned for low voltage operation. For this reason, the lamp 28 isshown to be of the low voltage type. It will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, however, that the present ornamental lightingfixtures are not limited to such low voltage operation.

The lower end of lamp socket 26 and the lamp 28 therein are enclosedwithin a lamp shade assembly 30. This shade assembly includes an uppermounting plate 32 having a central, internally threaded hub 34 threadedon the lamp socket 26, below the ceiling plate 12. The outer peripheraledge portion of the mounting plate 32 is turned downwardly to form anornamental rim or flange 36 about the mounting plate. Below the mountingplate 32 is a lamp shade 38 proper. This shade has an annular body 40coaxially disposed about the lower end of the lamp socket 26 and thelamp 28. The upper end of the shade body 40 is turned outwardly to forma flange 42. This flange seats against and is welded, or otherwiserigidly secured to the undersurface of the mounting plate 32. Lamp 28 isenergized through electrical leads 44 which extend from the upper end ofthe lamp socket 26 and through an opening in the upper wall of thereceptacle box 18.

In the ornamental lighting fixture 10 illustrated in FIGURES 1 through3, the shade body 40 has an inverted frusto-conical shape. The lower,small diameter end of the shade has an opening 44 thru which light fromthe lamp 28 may pass. In a typical ornamental lighting fixture accordingto the invention, the shade 30 is fabricated from sheet metal so thatthe shade body 40 is opaque. For this reason, a multiplicity of holes 46are drilled, punched, or otherwise formed in the shade body 40 and arerelatively uniformly distributed over the body to permit light from thelamp 28 to pass through the shade. When a lighting fixture of this typeis installed and illuminated, it casts on the ceiling 20 a pattern oflight and shadow similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 1. In thisfigure, the reference characters L indicate patches of light from thefixture.

According to the present invention, the lighting fixture 10 is uniquelyconstructed to alter its light pattern. The pattern is thus altered byadjusting the relative axial position of the lamp 28 and the shade 30,thereby to change the position of the lamp relative to the holes 46 inthe shade. This adjustment of the relative axial position of the lamp 28and the shade 30 is accomplished by rotating the shade relative to thelamp socket 26. During rotation of the shade, the latter is elevated orlowered with respect to the lamp 28, depending upon the direction ofrotation of the shade, by virtue ,of the threaded connection between theshade mounting plate 32 and the lamp socket 26. As the lamp shade isthus adjusted up and down, the position of the lamp 28 with respect tothe shade holes 46 changes, thereby changing the pattern of light andshadow cast on the surface of the ceiling 20 by the lighting fixture.

It will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art that thelight pattern adjusting feature of the invention may be embodied inornamental lighting fixtures having shade configurations other than thatillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3. FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate amodified ornamental lighting fixture according to the invention havingone possible alternative shade configuration. The lighting fixture ofFIGURES 4 and 5 is identical to the lighting fixture 10, just described,except for the shape and construction of the shade 102 of the fixture100. Shade' 102 includes a body 104 having a generally uprightfrusto-conical configuration. At the upper end of the shade body is aninternally threaded hub 106 which is threaded on the lower end of thelamp socket 26. Ex-

tending outwardly from the hub-106 is a flange 108 which seats againstand is welded to the under surface of an ornamental plate 110. Thisornamental plate corresponds to and is similarly shaped to the mountingplate 32 of the lamp Shade body 104, like the shade body 40 in FIGURE 2,is fabricated from sheet metal and is formed with a multiplicity ofholes 112 through which light from the lamp 28 may pass. Mounted in thelower, large diameter end of the shade body 104 is a transparent lens114 which may be fabricated of acrylic plastic, for example. Lens 114may be optically designed to focus light rays from lamp 28 forilluminating either general or local areas below the shade.

It is apparent that the shade 102 in the modified ornamental lightingfixture 100 is adjustable up and down relative to the lamp 28 byrotating the shade. As the shade is thus axially adjusted relative tothe lamp, the position of the lamp with respect to the shade holes 112is changed. This change in the relative position of the lamp and shadeholes, in turn, alters the pattern of light and shadow cast by the lampon the ceiling 20, in much the same way as adjustment of the shade 30 inthe lighting fixture 10 alters the light and shadow pattern created bythat fixture.

While the invention has been described in connection with ceilingmounted lighting fixtures, it is apparent that the invention issusceptible of embodiment in wall mounted fixtures as well. Accordingly,the invention should not be regarded as limited in application toceiling fixtures.

It is evident from the preceding description that the ornamentallighting fixtures herein described and illustrated are fully capable ofattaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

While certain principally preferred embodiments of the invention havebeen disclosed, it is to be understood that various modifications in thedesign, arrangement of parts, and instrumentalities of the invention arepossible within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

The invention has been described in considerable detail in order tocomply with the patent laws by providing a full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of theinvention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

I claim:

1. An ornamental lighting fixture for casting an adjustable pattern oflight and shadow on an adjacent supporting surface such as a ceiling,comprising:

a flat ceiling plate adapted to be mounted on the ceiling surface,having a threaded central opening formed therein;

means for mounting said flat ceiling plate to the ceiling surface;

an elongated, externally threaded lamp socket occupying said centralopening in threaded engagement therewith, and extending therebeyond toreceive a lamp;

and a lamp shade assembly including a fiat mounting plate having acentral opening through which said lamp socket extends, a lamp shadehaving an annular body coaxially disposed about the lower end of saidlamp socket and said lamp with the upper end of said shade body beingrigidly secured to the undersurface of said mounting plate, and aninternally threaded hub cooperatively associated with said centralopening of said mounting plate for threadedly engaging said lamp socket;

said shade body being opaque and having a multiplicity of relativelytransparent areas therein at locations both above and below the lampwhereby a pattern of light and shade is cast upon the adjacent ceilingsurface;

said pattern being adjustable by rotating said mounting plate relativeto said lamp socket so as to change the vertical position of said lampshade relative to the lamp.

2. An ornamental lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidflat mounting plate has a downwardly curved peripheral flange for-medthereon, the bottom of said flange being at a significant-1y higherelevation than said lamp.

3. An ornamental lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein theupper end of said shade body includes an integrally formed horizontalflange rigidly secured to said flat mounting plate.

4. An ornamental lighting fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein theupper end of said shade body includes an integrally formed horizontalflange rigidly secured to said flat mounting plate.

5. An ornamental lighting fixture as claimed in claim 4 wherein saidshade body has an inverted frusto-conical shape.

6. An ornamental lighting fixture as claimed in claim 4 wherein saidshade body has a generally upright frustoconical shape, said internallythreaded hub being incorporated in the upper end of said shade body.

7. A light fixture, comprising an elongated lamp socket, means forsuspending the lamp socket from a supporting surface with one endextending vertically downwardly to receive a lamp, a lamp shade bodycarried from the socket in surrounding relation thereto, a plate aboutthe socket above the shade body and having an outer periphery extendingbeyond the upper end of the shade body, said shade body being opaque andhaving a multiplicity of relatively transparent areas therein betweenthe end of the socket and the supporting surface so that a pattern oflight and shade is cast upon a portion of the fixture between the upperend of the shade and the outer periphery of the plate, and means formoving the shade body longitudinally of the socket so as to adjust saidshade body toward and away from the supporting surface.

8. A light fixture, comprising an elongated lamp socket, means formounting the lamp socket in a supporting surface with one end extendingtherebeyond to receive a lamp,

.an opaque lamp shade body, means for mounting the lamp shade body aboutthe socket, a plate on one of said mounting means extending radiallyoutwardly from the socket, said shade body having a multiplicity ofrelatively transparent areas therein arranged between the end of thesocket and the supporting surface so as to cast a pattern of light andshade on the plate, and means for moving the shade body longitudinallyof the socket so as to adjust said shade body toward and away from thesupporting surface.

5!. A light fixture as claimed in claim 8 wherein said relativelytransparent areas are ararnged to also cast a pattern of light and shadeupon the supporting surface about the plate.

10. A light fixture, comprising an elongated lamp socket, meansincluding a plate adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface andhaving an opening formed centrally therein to carry the lamp socket withone end ex tending therebeyond to receive a lamp, a lamp shade assemblyincluding an opaque lamp shade body, and means for mounting the shadebody about the socket including a plate extending radially outwardlyfrom the socket to conceal the plate of the socket mounting means, saidshade body having a multiplicity of relatively transparent areas thereinarranged between the end of the socket and the supporting surface so asto cast a pattern of light and shade on areas surrounding the socket,and means for moving the shade body mounting means longitudinally of thesocket so as to adjust the shade body toward and away from thesupporting surface.

11. A light fixture as claimed in claim 10 wherein the relativelytransparent areas in the shade body are arranged to cast the pattern oflight and shade upon the plate ofthe shade body mounting means.

12. A light fixture as claimed in claim 11 wherein there is a flange onthe outer periphery of the plate of the shade body mounting means whichis turned in a direction away from the supporting surface.

13. A light fixture, comprising an elongated lamp socket, meanssuspending the lamp socket from a supporting surface with one endextending vertically downwardly, a low voltage lamp received in the endof the socket, an opaque lamp shade body, means for mounting the shadebody in surrounding relation of the socket, including a hub carried onthe socket, a plate about the socket above the shade body and having anouter periphery extending beyond the upper end of the shade body, saidshade body being opaque and having a multiplicity of relativelytransparent areas therein between the end of the socket and lampreceived therein and the supporting surface, so that a pattern of lightand shade is cast upon a portion of the fixture between the upper end ofthe shade and the outer periphery of the plate, and means for adjustingthe hub longitudinally of the socket, and said hub being movable overthe lamp and end of the socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,605,956 11/1926 Kornfeild et a1240132 1,851,916 3/1932 MacDonald 240108 XR 2,218,291 10/1940 Muller240108 XR 2,723,344 11/1955 Greminger 240-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,602 4/1904 Great Britain.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. C. LOGAN II, Assistant Examiner.

7. A LIGHT FIXTURE, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LAMP SOCKET, MEANS FORSUSPENDING THE LAMP SOCKET FROM A SUPPORTING SURFACE WITH ONE ENDEXTENDING VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY TO RECEIVE A LAMP, A LAMP SHADE BODYCARRIED FROM THE SOCKET IN SURROUNDING RELATION THERETO, A PLATE ABOUTTHE SOCKET ABOVE THE SHADE BODY AND HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERY EXTENDINGBEYOND THE UPPER END OF THE SHADE BODY, SAID SHADE BODY BEING OPAQUE ANDHAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF RELATIVELY TRANSPARENT AREAS THEREIN BETWEENTHE END OF THE SOCKET AND THE SUPPORTING SURFACE SO THAT A PATTERN OFLIGHT AND SHADE IS CAST UPON A PORTION OF THE FIXTURE BETWEEN THE UPPEREND OF THE SHADE AND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE PLATE, AND MEANS FORMOVING THE SHADE BODY LONG-